Natural Resource Management Land Use Planning Project

Land use planning has been widely recognised as a powerful and flexible tool through which local and state government can consider and promote natural resource management matters in its decision-making processes. To improve the integration of natural resource management into land use planning, the EnviroPlanning project was developed.

EnviroPlanning is sponsored by the Australian Government and funded through the strategic reserve component of the Natural Heritage Trust. The project is a partnership between the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), Department for Planning and Infrastructure and WAPC.

The primary objective of the EnviroPlanning is to improve the integration of natural resource management into land use planning, with the delivery focused on local government in consultation with the natural resource management regions, relevant state government departments and interested community organisations.

The major components of EnviroPlanning include:

1. Local government partnership program
EnviroPlanning has approximately $250,000 to support local governments to develop new ways to make statutory land use planning more responsive and effective as a tool for supporting natural resource management. Local governments interested in obtaining funds should review the Funding Guidelines for EnviroPlanning’s Local Government Partnership Program and complete the expression of interest form attached by the 31 March 2008.

Request for expressions of interest ( 191 Kb)

2. NRM land use planning framework
A directions paper proposing a natural resource management land use planning framework is being prepared. The paper will identify and consolidate opportunities within the existing State Planning Framework and natural resource management regional delivery process to improve integration of natural resource management into land use planning. The paper will be informed by a number of component working papers including: 

• review of natural resource management regional strategies;
• review of the State Planning Framework;
• guidance for the integration of natural resource management into local planning strategies;
• roles and responsibilities of key state government departments when providing input into local planning strategies;
• guidance on the use of covenants and local planning schemes for biodiversity conservation;
• review of Environmental Protection Authority Guidance Statement 33; and
• guidance for the use of land capability assessment during the different stage of the land use planning process.

3. Land use planning awareness program
This component involves increasing the awareness of the natural resource management regions in the land use planning system and highlighting the opportunities to integrate natural resource management regional strategies into local government planning strategies, schemes and policies. 

Progress reports
December 2007 ( 44 Kb) 
September 2007 ( 58 Kb)

EnviroPlanning contacts
Project Manager: Ryan Taylor 9264 7923
Senior Project Officer: Ann Noordermeer 9264 7741
Senior Project Officer (Swan Region): Danielle O’Neill 9264 7847

Links to Natural Resource Management Regional Groups

Avon Catchment Council

Northern Agricultural Catchment Council

South Coast Natural Resource Management

South West Catchment Council

Swan Catchment Council

Rangelands Coordinating Group